WELLINGTON, New Zealand – U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan isn't ready to discuss the stunning ruling on American college athletics issued while he was traveling to New Zealand.

Duncan is attending the International Summit on the Profession of Teaching. He told The Associated Press on Friday that the ruling came after he boarded the plane for the long journey.

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The National Labor Relations Board ruled on Wednesday that football players at Northwestern University can unionize and essentially be treated as employees under U.S. law. The ruling could have massive consequences for the multibillion-dollar college sports industry.

Duncan said, "I missed it in transition, and obviously I've been focused here." He said he'd be happy to talk about it when he was up to speed on what happened.